– Chapter 6 –
Memphis is Found

The Napoleonic expedition to Egypt between 1799 and 1801 finally puts the ancient city of Memphis back on the map. Numerous people, from engineers and diplomats to army officers and lawyers come to visit this incredible ancient capital. One of the most notable of these is Giovanni Battista Caviglia who finds the colossus of Ramesses II (now on display at the Memphis Museum). Memphis was beginning to give up its secrets.

By the end of the 19th century, Memphis features in Egyptological publications and archaeologists increasingly descend on the city. Flinders Petrie begins large-scale excavations of the city between 1908 and 1913. He is followed by Clarence Fisher from the University of Pennsylvania, who excavates the well-preserved palace of Merenptah. Excavations are also carried out by a number of Egyptian archaeologists such as Ahmed Badawi and Labib Habachi. They discover, amongst other things, the Apis House, Chapel of Seti I, Tombs of the High Priests, Ramesses II Temple and Ramesses II Chapel.